Warning, Automatic Braking Systems On Autos Will Help Save Lives, Researchers Predict

The research showed that 7.7 percent of crashes would be prevented by use of all three systems — warning, assisted braking, and autonomous braking. “We looked at one generic system with a 1.7 second warning. If the warning were sooner, it would prevent more crashes, but there would also be false alarms, which results in drivers turning the systems off or ignoring warnings,” Gabler said.
But the research sponsor, Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center, is interested in more than how many crashes would be prevented. “They pointed out, ‘There are people in those cars.’ And they asked, ‘Can injuries and fatalities be prevented?’,” said Gabler.
The research showed that use of all three systems may have the potential to reduce injuries by 50 percent. “That surprised me,” said Kusano. “That is on a level with seat belts.”
More>>

The research showed that 7.7 percent of crashes would be prevented by use of all three systems – warning, assisted braking, and autonomous braking. “We looked at one generic system with a 1.7 second warning. If the warning were sooner, it would prevent more crashes, but there would also be false alarms, which results in drivers turning the systems off or ignoring warnings,” Gabler said. But the research sponsor, Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center, is interested in more than how many crashes would be prevented. “They pointed out, ‘There are people in those cars.’ And they asked, ‘Can injuries and fatalities be prevented?’,” said Gabler. The research showed that use of all three systems may have the potential to reduce injuries by 50 percent. “That surprised me,” said Kusano. “That is on a level with seat belts.”